Utilitarianism: Definition and Principles

Utilitarianism

• Utilitarianism is a moral theory centred on the consequences of actions to evaluate their ethical value
• The right action maximizes happiness and minimizes suffering for the most people

Key Principles

• Principle of Utility: Actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they cause the opposite
• Consequentialism: The morality of an action is judged solely by its outcomes
• Impartiality: Each individual's happiness is equally important

Jeremy Bentham

• Introduced quantifying happiness through "felicific calculus"

John Stuart Mill

• Refined Bentham's ideas by distinguishing between higher (intellectual and moral) and lower (physical) pleasures
• Intellectual and moral pleasures should be prioritized over physical ones

Utilitarianism in the Context of the Mamasapano Incident

• The incident presents an ethical dilemma where national security interests conflicted with the loss of life
• The operation eliminated a dangerous terrorist but resulted in the deaths of 44 SAF officers, 18 MILF fighters, and five civilians
• The government was scrutinized on whether the mission was justified under utilitarianism
• A Senate inquiry raised ethical issues about wiretapping and the right to privacy
• The Anti-Wiretapping Law protects private communication, but exemptions exist for national security threats

Ethical Dilemmas in Utilitarianism

• Torture to Extract Information: Utilitarianism might justify torturing a terrorist to save lives, raising human rights concerns
• Torturing an Innocent Child: Harming an innocent child challenges fundamental moral principles
• Lying vs. Truthfulness: A lie might promote greater happiness, conflicting with moral duty

Limitations of Utilitarianism

• Sacrificing Individual Rights: Prioritizing collective happiness can violate personal freedoms
• Measuring Happiness: Quantifying happiness is subjective, making ethical decisions difficult
• Justice and Fairness: Utilitarianism may justify sacrificing a few for the greater good, contradicting justice and human dignity

Principle of Utility

• A moral philosophy that evaluates actions based on their consequences, stating that a morally right action produces the greatest happiness or least pain for the greatest number of people
• Developed by Jeremy Bentham and refined by John Stuart Mill
• Influences decision-making in law, economics, and public policy

Core Concepts of the Principle of Utility

• The principle states that the best action maximizes happiness and minimizes suffering for the greatest number of people
• Morality should be assessed by outcomes rather than intentions

Bentham's Utilitarianism

• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) introduced hedonistic utilitarianism, defining happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain
• He proposed the Hedonic Calculus, a method for measuring pleasure and pain based on intensity, duration, certainty, and extent

Mill's Utilitarianism

• John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) distinguished between higher (intellectual and moral) and lower (bodily) pleasures
• Mill argued that higher pleasures contribute more to human well-being

Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism

• Act Utilitarianism: Evaluates individual actions based on their direct consequences
• Rule Utilitarianism: Suggests following rules that generally lead to the greatest happiness

Strengths of the Principle of Utility

• Practical and outcome-based, focusing on real-world consequences
• Promotes collective well-being by encouraging actions that benefit the majority
• Flexible and applicable to ethical dilemmas, encouraging progressive social policies

Criticisms of the Principle of Utility

• Difficult to measure happiness because quantifying pleasure and pain is subjective
• Has a potential to justify immoral actions if harming a few leads to greater overall happiness
• Ignores individual rights as minority rights may be sacrificed for majority happiness
• Requires individuals to always prioritize the greatest good, which can be unrealistic.

Real-World Applications

• Law and Public Policy: Used to justify policies like taxation, healthcare, and criminal punishment based on societal benefit
• Business Ethics: Companies use utilitarian principles in decision-making to maximize customer and shareholder satisfaction
• Medical Ethics: Applied in triage situations to allocate limited resources
• The principle is a powerful ethical framework that prioritizes overall happiness and well-being
• Utilitarianism continues to be a guiding principle for policies

Principle of the Greatest Number

• Equating happiness with pleasure is not only about individual pleasures but about the pleasure of the greatest number affected by the consequences of actions
• Actions that eradicate disease through technology are considered morally right because they maximize pleasure over displeasure for the greatest number of people

Mill Refined the Theory

• Distinguished between higher (intellectual and moral) and lower (physical) forms of pleasure
• Utilitarianism aims for the overall happiness of society, not just individual pleasure

Key Aspects

• Mill emphasized that some pleasures (intellectual and noble ones) are superior to others (basic or physical pleasures)
• Utilitarianism discourages selfishness, stating that moral actions must benefit not just the individual but society
• The consequences of actions matter more than the intentions behind them
• Critical thinking on whether all goods can be measured on a common scale

LGBTQ+

• LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others
• The "plus" represents other sexual identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit

What Each Letter Means

• L (Lesbian): A woman/woman-aligned person attracted to only people of the same/similar gender
• G (Gay): Usually refers to men/men-aligned individuals attracted to people of the same/similar gender
• B (Bisexual): Indicates attraction to all genders
• T (Transgender): Indicates that a person's gender identity is different from the gender associated with their sex at birth
• Q (Queer or Questioning): An umbrella term for anyone who is non-cisgender or heterosexual

Acronym History

• The acronym LGBTQ+ evolved as a way to be more inclusive of other identities
• The words and meanings are always evolving
• The acronym is designed to be inclusive representing the self-identities of people who are transgender and/or similar gender attracted.

St. Thomas Aquinas

• St. Thomas Aquinas was a medieval philosopher and theologian, Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, known for Summa Theologiae
• He reconciled faith with reason and was a pivotal figure in scholasticism

Christian Context of Aquinas' Work

• Christian Narrative: Human creation and redemption
• Summa Theologiae Structure: Part 1 (God), Part 2 (Humanity), Part 3 (Christ)
• Ethics: Part of a broader spiritual framework

Key Points

• Aquinas was a Dominican friar and key contributor to Christian doctrine who had a lasting impact with Summa Theologiae
• His ethics are based on human nature and the pursuit of happiness with the ultimate goal being a return to God through Christ's grace

Ethical Framework

• Role of Conscience: Based on objective morality, not just feelings
• Importance of developing good habits for a virtuous life
• Christianity shapes rules and norms in schools, communities, and workplaces

Summary

• Aquinas's work is foundational to Christian theology
• His ethical thoughts are rooted in human nature and the search for happiness

Greek Heritage

• Greek heritage encompasses the cultural, historical, and intellectual traditions of Greece, dating back to ancient times
• It includes the development of democracy, philosophy, mythology, and literature

Philosophers

• Socrates was known for the Socratic method
• Plato founded the Academy, wrote The Republic, and introduced idealism
• Aristotle was a student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great, and a pioneer in logic, ethics, and science

Political Figures

• Pericles led Athens during its Golden Age
• Alexander the Great expanded Greek culture across Europe, Asia, and Africa

Writers & Poets

• Homer wrote The Iliad and The Odyssey
• Sophocles wrote tragedies like Oedipus Rex
• Euripides & Aeschylus shaped drama and theater

Essence of Law

• As rational beings with free will, we can choose to direct our actions
• We must consider the common good, which encompasses the well-being of all members
• We cannot simply act without considering the impact on others
• Laws are an ordinance of reason for the common good, created by those responsible for the community and communicated to its members

Varieties

• God guides actions and purpose, described as the Eternal Law
• We exist within God's plan, and we have a role in fulfilling God's design
• All beings have inclinations that reveal aspects of the Eternal Law
• Understandings align our actions with the the contribution to the common good

Natural Law

• Humans participate more consciously through reason, giving the ability to discern good and evil
• Principles are general but can be made more specific through human law
• Human laws are valid if they align with Natural Law and promote the common good

Aquinas Three Levels of Inclination

• Preservation of Being: All beings preserve their own existence, leading to the precept that "Good is to be done and pursued, and evil is to be avoided"
• Common Animal Nature: Inclinations like reproduction and care for offspring lead to precepts like "Do not kill" and "Respect the rights of others"
• Rational Nature: Seeking truth and living in community leads to precepts like "Seek knowledge" and "Live in harmony with others"

Post-Truth

• We bombarded with stories which are presented as news, making it harder to trust information
• The suggestion that truth is subjective, allowing people to dismiss evidence that contradicts their beliefs
• Social media thrives on sensationalism, leading to the spread of exaggerated and emotionally charged statements that often lack